Ampas

Frank Pierson , the Oscar -winning writer of "Dog Day Afternoon," former president of the Academy of Motion Pictures & Sciences and a consulting producer on "Mad Men" as recently as this past season, died Monday after a short illness in Los Angeles. He was 87. Pierson's electrifying script for Sidney Lumet 's "Dog Day Afternoon," a classic film of the 1970s that captured the zeitgeist of the era, deservedly won an Oscar. He was thrice nominated for screenplay Oscars, having also picked up shared mentions for "Cat Ballou" and "Cool Hand Luke" -- he was the creator of the famous line from the latter, "What we have here is failure to communicate.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art will co-present an exhibition of the work of Stanley Kubrick beginning in November, billing it as the first U.S. retrospective of the famed director. AMPAS chief exec Dawn Hudson called the event "a taste of things to come" with regards to the growing partnership between the film academy and LACMA, which forged an agreement to create the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in the LACMA West building at Wilshire and Fairfax.

Beverly Hills, CA - The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science has promoted Andy Horn to the newly created position of Chief Financial Officer, Academy CEO Dawn Hudson announced today. Horn will report directly to Hudson. "Andy is an exceptional executive and an outstanding financial strategist," said Hudson. "Over the years, his skills and expertise have earned him the respect of the Board, and he has led us in uncertain economic times to an even more secure place from which we can continue to grow and prosper.

Despite ongoing chatter about the possibility of the Oscars moving earlier on the calendar, the Acad has stuck with tradition, setting Feb. 24, 2013, as the date for the 85th annual Academy Awards. Nominations, however, will be announced Jan. 15 -- more than a full week earlier than last year's Jan. 24 reveal. Though that change squeezes the nominations up closer to the Golden Globes ceremony, Oscar polls have tended to close before the HFPA 's kudocast, as they did last year.

Bringing back a name from its past, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has elected Hawk Koch to be its next president. Koch's father, Howard W. Koch, served as president from 1970-73 and 1977-79. Most recently, Koch has been serving as AMPAS' first vice president. Earning his first term as the Acad's prexy, Koch replaces Tom Sherak, who had served three terms beginning in 2009. Koch was first vice president for the org in the past year, and previously served three one-year terms as treasurer.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has promoted Scott Miller and Kimberly Roush to senior management positions, COO Ric Robertson announced Wednesday. Miller, who will continue to serve as assistant general counsel -- a position he's held since 2002 -- has also assumed the role of managing director of administration, while Roush has been elevated to managing director of membership and awards. Both will report directly to Robertson. Miller's new duties will include campaign regulations and compliance, building and theater operations, and Oscar statuette manufacture and distribution.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has struck a 20-year agreement to stay at the Hollywood and Highland Center, where the Oscars venue will now be called the Dolby Theater. AMPAS' deal with venue owner CIM Group comes after a months-long flirtation with a possible move via an out clause that was triggered this year. While that was going on, Eastman Kodak was able to wiggle out of its sponsorship deal as part of its ongoing bankruptcy. Tuesday's announcement of the two separate agreements brings apparent stability through 2033 to the location of the Oscars, which many had hoped would find a way to stay in Hollywood.

Jasmine Madatian has been named to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' newly created position of managing director, communications, giving her oversight of the Academy's publicity and corporate communications campaigns, including the Oscars and year-round initiatives. "I look forward to sharing its dynamic year-round story - from the Oscars to its public programs to its incredible educational and preservation efforts," Madatian said in a statement. AMPAS chief marketing officer Christina Kounelias, to whom Madatian will report, announced the hire effective July 30. "Jasmine is a smart, innovative and highly regarded communications strategist with strong relationships throughout the film and media industry," said Kounelias.

Bringing back a name from its past, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has elected Hawk Koch to be its next president. Koch's father, Howard W. Koch, served as president from 1970-73 and 1977-79. Most recently, Koch has been serving as AMPAS' first vice president. Earning his first term as the Acad's prexy, Koch replaces Tom Sherak, who had served three terms beginning in 2009. Koch was first vice president for the org in the past year, and previously served three one-year terms as treasurer.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences tweaked its campaign rulebook Wednesday, honing its regulations on post-nomination screenings. Between the noms announcement Jan. 15 and the end of Oscar voting on Feb. 19, backers of each film may invite Academy members to as many as four screenings with filmmaker Q&As, plus a fifth in the U.K. None of those events can include a reception or complimentary film or beverages. In 2011, rules changes by the Acad restricted participation of a film's cast and crew to two screenings by the film company after nominations day, but that rule essentially had a loophole, Academy COO Ric Robertson indicated.

Frank Pierson , the Oscar -winning writer of "Dog Day Afternoon," former president of the Academy of Motion Pictures & Sciences and a consulting producer on "Mad Men" as recently as this past season, died Monday after a short illness in Los Angeles. He was 87. Pierson's electrifying script for Sidney Lumet 's "Dog Day Afternoon," a classic film of the 1970s that captured the zeitgeist of the era, deservedly won an Oscar. He was thrice nominated for screenplay Oscars, having also picked up shared mentions for "Cat Ballou" and "Cool Hand Luke" -- he was the creator of the famous line from the latter, "What we have here is failure to communicate.

Beverly Hills, CA - The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science has promoted Andy Horn to the newly created position of Chief Financial Officer, Academy CEO Dawn Hudson announced today. Horn will report directly to Hudson. "Andy is an exceptional executive and an outstanding financial strategist," said Hudson. "Over the years, his skills and expertise have earned him the respect of the Board, and he has led us in uncertain economic times to an even more secure place from which we can continue to grow and prosper.

Jasmine Madatian has been named to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' newly created position of managing director, communications, giving her oversight of the Academy's publicity and corporate communications campaigns, including the Oscars and year-round initiatives. "I look forward to sharing its dynamic year-round story - from the Oscars to its public programs to its incredible educational and preservation efforts," Madatian said in a statement. AMPAS chief marketing officer Christina Kounelias, to whom Madatian will report, announced the hire effective July 30. "Jasmine is a smart, innovative and highly regarded communications strategist with strong relationships throughout the film and media industry," said Kounelias.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has struck a 20-year agreement to stay at the Hollywood and Highland Center, where the Oscars venue will now be called the Dolby Theater. AMPAS' deal with venue owner CIM Group comes after a months-long flirtation with a possible move via an out clause that was triggered this year. While that was going on, Eastman Kodak was able to wiggle out of its sponsorship deal as part of its ongoing bankruptcy. Tuesday's announcement of the two separate agreements brings apparent stability through 2033 to the location of the Oscars, which many had hoped would find a way to stay in Hollywood.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences tweaked its campaign rulebook Wednesday, honing its regulations on post-nomination screenings. Between the noms announcement Jan. 15 and the end of Oscar voting on Feb. 19, backers of each film may invite Academy members to as many as four screenings with filmmaker Q&As, plus a fifth in the U.K. None of those events can include a reception or complimentary film or beverages. In 2011, rules changes by the Acad restricted participation of a film's cast and crew to two screenings by the film company after nominations day, but that rule essentially had a loophole, Academy COO Ric Robertson indicated.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has promoted Scott Miller and Kimberly Roush to senior management positions, COO Ric Robertson announced Wednesday. Miller, who will continue to serve as assistant general counsel -- a position he's held since 2002 -- has also assumed the role of managing director of administration, while Roush has been elevated to managing director of membership and awards. Both will report directly to Robertson. Miller's new duties will include campaign regulations and compliance, building and theater operations, and Oscar statuette manufacture and distribution.